Trust Your Training

I kept repeating this to myself all day and night before the marathon. “Trust Your Training…Trust Your Training.” My family could tell I was stressed, worried, unsure, on edge, not myself, maybe a bit bitchy – as they tried to celebrate the night before by making an incredible carb-loading pasta feed.

And I just picked at my food. A few noodles and a glass of water was all I could stomach. But I did manage to touch-up my roots. Because as no one has ever said “If you can’t carbo-load, then make sure your gray roots are covered.”

But basically every women over 40 includes this step in their training.

I went to bed early and tossed and turned until I finally just went downstairs at 4am and turned on the coffee. I logged into Facebook and Twitter and read the “good luck” messages from friends, the Grandma’s Marathon feed, and checked the weather forecast 52 times.

I ate two pieces of toast and a banana with my coffee and drank very little water. By this point I was already peeing constantly and my nerves were getting worse. I hated being up this early and having to catch a bus with so much time to still kill before the start of the race.

“Trust Your Training…Trust Your Training.”

I made small talk with my bus-mate during the hour up to the start of the course, and during our conversation I said “I just need to remember to have fun and enjoy this celebration of my training journey. This is the party.”

And then I felt better.

“Trust Your Training. Enjoy the celebration.”

I mean sure, then I had to pee three million times before the race started – and if you’ve never ran a marathon before, the starting area goes something like this…

…there are about 10,000 people and 500 porta potties and you get in line…wait in line…pee..get back in line…wait in line…pee…get in line…wait in line…pee..hear them announce that you better get your ass in line to start the race and think “My god, but I have to pee again!” but it’s too late.

So then all 10,000 people finally get lined up and start stripping down. Clothes, hats, and gloves are flying everywhere as we strip down to our running clothes and shed our warm-up clothes because it’s only 45 degrees and raining. Now we freeze for a few minutes in our tank tops and shorts. Nobody smells yet though, so we all stand close. But we all have to pee.

Then the National Anthem in sung. Everyone goes quiet. Except me when I whisper to the young, shirtless, cold chap next to me “OMG is that Gordon Lightfoot singing?” And he’s all like “Who?” and I’m like “You know the guy who sang the Edmund Fitzgerald song!” and he was all like “The What?” So I gave him a dirty, motherly, exasperated look and scooted up a few rows where I spotted some handsome guys with graying hair and said “Gordon Lightfoot, seriously the best, right?” And they were all like “Right, how amazing?” And then I realized that I found my people. And they are no longer 25 years old.

“Trust Your Training. Enjoy the celebration. Teach the young people who Gordon Lightfoot is.”

And then the gun goes off and we just stand there because there are 6000 people in front of us. And everyone still has to pee. But after several minutes we finally run through the starting line and run like a pack of sardines for a mile or two. Unless you are a man. If you are a man – you have broken off from the pack and are now peeing on the side of the road.

Actually – there are three types of men who run marathons – 1. The ones who pee right on the side of the road in front of everyone, 2. The ones who prefer to run into the woods and hide and pee behind a tree, and 3. The ones who wait in line at the porta-potty.

There is only one type of woman who runs a marathon -women who wish we had a penis when we run marathons so we could more easily pee on the side of the road.

So then I started out too fast – like I always do and kept hearing this voice “Don’t go out too fast.” But I didn’t listen to that voice because I still felt great at the half-marathon point and even the 19 mile point..and I didn’t really feel too shabby at the 22 mile point. Also, the urge to pee finally let-up at mile 9. That was the best part of my whole day.

But then that damn four-hour pacer lady with the balloons passed me at mile 23 and that really pissed me off because I could no longer keep up. Also my stomach hurt and I was convinced all of my teeth were rotting out because of the 16 gel-shots I had consumed.

And then I saw MY PEOPLE at mile 24. My aunt and uncle were there – and I was like “WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN.” No, I was more like sobbing and so happy to see someone I knew…because it made those last two miles so easy. Also, my teeth hadn’t fallen out yet.

And then I got to mile 25 and starting smiling and almost sprinting at the end and then I saw MY PEOPLE at the finish line – my babies and husband yelling for me..and I waved at them all cool like….

And I saw that I was finishing at about 4 hours and 1 minute. And just in front of a couple of young guys in their 20s who have no clue about Gordon Lightfoot. We high-fived all around and one of them said “Good job, Ma.” I finished strong and not even tired or that sore. And I could still walk and talk. I felt incredible actually.

“Trust Your Training.” – When I ran Twin Cities Marathon I trained for a 4:15-4:30 marathon and I finished right in there. This time – for Grandma’s Marathon – I trained for a 4-4:15 marathon..and I finished right in there..and wasn’t disappointed that I did not finish in under 4 hours – because I finished the exact marathon I trained for – and without injury, or peeing myself.

Next time – I plan to train for a 3:45-3:55(Boston qualifying for this old lady) – and if I can do it without injury – well I know I can do it. Because I trust my training. The rest of it is just a bunch of mind games.

So next time – tell me to simmer down – and to remember that the marathon is indeed the easy part and the celebration. And maybe with a little luck I’ll get to hear a little Gordon Lightfoot again.

And even if I don’t reach my goals – at least I still have a cat at home to mess with.

About Tracy

My name is Tracy Morrison and I live in sunny Minnesota. I'm neither British nor a nun - I'm just a Midwesterner with a headache. This is mainly a humor and lifestyle blog that documents the lighter side of parenting. I am an ex-corporate ladder climber turned freelance writer, social media manager, world traveler, and marathon runner. I would love for you to contact me at tracy@sellabitmum.com

Absolutely inspiring! I can’t believe you’re over 40 and you can do all that. You make me weep with envy! LOL. Seriously though, what an accomplishment. And yes, it’s totally the mind games that are the biggest obstacles. I did a mud run last year for the first time and the mind games were totally hard to overcome. I couldn’t do it this year cuz I’m pregnant, but next year, I’m game!Janice recently posted..Review and A #GIVEAWAY: Universal Bluetooth Foldable Keyboard

Congrats, Tracy! I am so impressed by your dedication.
Also, I will have you know that my children could all sing along to “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” before they entered kindergarten. Raising them right.Shannon recently posted..So Far

Love this post!! So funny! I’ve never done a full but your pre-race experience is exactly like all of my pre-half experiences! Visiting from TypeAParentApril at Runthegreatwidesomewhere recently posted..Shin Splints 101

Wow! Congratulations Tracy! Amazing job and you are doing all us women proud. You’ve proven to yourself and everyone else that you can do anything you set your mind too. Keep it UP!Kathy @ SMART Living 365.com recently posted..What Are You Nexting? The Power of Positive Anticipation

That was damn funny. Especially because I remember sitting in my friend’s basement as a kid listening to the single of “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”! Congrats on your run!Amy Albers recently posted..Workout Wednesday: Get Fit Like Fido!

I swear, that picture of you waving and ending your race — with a smile on your face — makes ME smile every time I see it. Congrats on completing a goal and you did it your own way. What an example for your girls.Sherri recently posted..Baby Love

Late to the party…I was actually unplugged as I took a couple day off work to train some….congratulations!!! Awesome time! I also must say that this is a timely piece for me. While I enjoy the dogs/child post…this hits at my heart right now because I am totally overwhelmed with fear of the marathon portion of my Ironman race. For me its all about finishing within the time limit. Some of fears of the swim were recently settled when I completed a 2.4 mile swim race and felt good afterwards….however, recently my runs have been a total struggle and I have a real fear of walking 24.6 miles of the marathon. Thanks for inspiration.

Thanks for the reminder as I prepare for my fourth triathlon…. and even after playing hockey for over 20 years, I still have to pee at the starting face off. Every game. Augh!jenn recently posted..…… 2014!!

Welcome

Hi and welcome to Sellabit Mum. My name is Tracy Morrison and I live in sunny Minnesota. I'm neither British nor a nun - I'm just a Midwesterner with a headache. This is mainly a humor and lifestyle blog that documents the lighter side of parenting three girls. I run marathons and love to talk about fitness. We also love to travel and model social good with our family. I am an ex-corporate ladder climber turned writer, social media maven(not really) and ruler of my own little universe(very small). Aren't we all. I would love for you to contact me at tracy@sellabitmum.com